South Africa is home to three international airports: Johannesburg, which is the biggest, Cape Town and Durban. The national airline is South African Airlines, which services local destinations as well as other worldwide cities.

Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport is the largest and busiest of all three airports. The airport is home to two main terminal buildings with excellent facilities. An abundance of banks, ATMs and bureaux de change can be found in each terminal as well as excellent restaurants and bars. Shopping opportunities are numerous and those looking for business services will be spoilt for choice.

Private bus companies offer regular services to the city and surrounding areas and many local hotels operate pick-up shuttle services. The airport taxi rank is situated outside the arrivals area. As is the case at all international airports, it is unwise to take one of the unregistered taxis offered by touts.

There is ample parking at the airport, with the airport's multi-storey car park housing over 5,000 parking bays. Dedicated disabled parking can be reserved in advance.

Cape Town International Airport is very well equipped with facilities which include banking and currency exchange services, restaurants, duty-free shopping and executive lounges. There is also a medical surgery on-site and baby-changing amenities.

Taxis and shuttle buses await arrivals for transfers to the city. They are the best option for travel to and from the airport, as the public transport network is fairly limited. Major car hire firms have offices at the airport.

The airport offers over 2,600 car parking spaces in a car park located directly in front of the terminal buildings. Reserved disabled persons’ parking spaces are available close to the terminal building.

Durban International Airport offers limited domestic and international flights to and from South Africa. The single-terminal airport offers cash machines and bureau de change desks as well as many shops, bars and restaurants.

Several shuttle services operate between the airport and the city throughout the day, while hotel shuttles and taxi cabs can be found and ordered 24 hours.

There are three long-term car parks and one short-term facility. All car parks offer facilities for the disabled.

Durban International Airport has a limited number of international flights, with most airlines opting to fly via Johannesburg. However, plans for a major new airport in coming years should boost the number of international carriers operating here.

The main driving routes into South Africa are from Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Driving in Africa can be dangerous; not all roads meet safety standards and delays at border posts can be lengthy. Always try to avoid driving late at night.

The main train routes from South Africa are to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. These services are operated by the South African Railways Services.

The main ports to the country are: Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. Round the world cruises often stop off in South Africa (especially Cape Town) and cruises to and from the Indian Ocean islands are offered by various companies during the summer months.

Air
Daily flights across the country link Bloemfontein, Durban, Kimberley, East London, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. South African Airways operates schedules on the main routes, but there are a number of budget carriers as well. These include Mango, kulula.com and 1time airline. Airfares can vary enormously, so check out available fares before you book.

Train
There are various levels of train service. At the very top end of the market are the luxury rail operations, the Blue Train and Rovos Rail. These match any world-famous trains for sheer luxury and personal service. They run along various routes, the most popular being between Cape Town and Pretoria/Johannesburg. Then there are long-distance trains which run between the major centres, offering three different classes of service. In first class carriages are equipped with sleeping compartments and showers. Advanced bookings are recommended for popular journeys and all overnight trips. Finally, there are commuter trains that operate in the major metropolitan areas. With the exception of the Cape Peninsula, tourists do not travel on the commuter service.

Bus
Greyhound, Intercape and Translux run a network of buses and coaches travelling to nationwide destinations. Bus networks can be found in every major town. It is a cheap alternative to travelling by rail, but buses can often be crowded and uncomfortable. As with bus travel anywhere, always be on your guard against pick-pockets and keep a tight hold of all of your belongings.

Car
Travelling by car is a very convenient way to travel around South Africa. An International Driving License is required if you do want to drive and the minimum age is 23. There are numerous car rental companies found around the country and at the airports, but you must have held a driving license for over five years before you can hire a car. Always take out full insurance on any vehicle you hire and be aware of all the conditions of hire. Major international rental companies such as Avis, Hertz and Europcar can be found in the major centres.

Taxis can be found throughout the country and are generally very safe, reasonably priced and convenient. If you book a taxi in advance, always negotiate a rate before it arrives, especially if you are travelling a long distance.